Mental Health Resources

When you need mental health counseling or services you can call a community mental health agency in your area directly to arrange for an appointment. Many mental health agencies are listed in the telephone Yellow Pages under Mental Health Services, or you could call your local county office to locate an agency near you. For your local office contact information - County Mental Health Administrator's Office

The Division of Mental Health funds about 120 private, not-for-profit community agencies to provide a full-range of mental health services. You will not be denied services if you are unable to pay for service at these state-supported agencies - each of these agencies has a sliding fee scale based on your ability to pay.

What if a person is in crisis?

Sometimes an individual is in emotional crisis and cannot wait for a regular appointment to receive services. To provide services in such situations, Screening/Crisis Centers were established in each county. Emergency services are provided 24-hours a day, seven-days a week, and are typically located in general hospitals.

An individual may walk in without an appointment, or the individual may be brought to the screening center by a parent, friend, spouse, police officer, mental health worker, or any other concerned individual. If the person in crisis is unable or unwilling to come to the center, a mobile outreach team can be sent to the person. Click here for the address and hotline telephone number of the Primary Screening Center nearest you.

If inpatient hospitalization is needed, the screening center may refer the person to a State or County Hospital or to an inpatient bed located in a general hospital closer to the individual's residence. The goal of inpatient treatment is to stabilize the individual, and to link the individual with needed community support services so that they can return to the community.

Special services are available to military veterans

Veterans suffering from psychological or emotional distress as well as those having difficulty re-assimilating back into civilian life following the conclusion of their mobilization for active duty service now have help available any time of the day or night.

NJ Vet2Vet, is a toll-free helpline, 866 VETS-NJ4 (866.838.7654) coordinated by Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. This support is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Participants can use the live chat function on the website or communicate through email (njvet2vet@ubhc.rutgers.edu) if they prefer. NJ Vet2Vet provides veteran peer support, family support, case management, web-based peer support, live chat services and employment resources as well as referrals to a comprehensive network of mental health providers All services are free and confidential.

Stress can surface in many forms and often appears weeks or months after a traumatic event. It may include anger, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, nightmares, depression, inability to concentrate, hyperactivity and/or increased alcohol or drug use. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress or feeling overwhelmed by painful emotions, call the New Jersey MentalHealthCares' Disaster Helpline: 866.202.4357 (HELP). A TTY line is available at 877.294.4356. Translation services are available as well.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. Reach out and ask for help at 800.273.TALK (800.273.8255).

Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative

Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative aims to improve the comfort and competency of primary care physicians and pediatricians to screen, identify and care manage children with mentalh health concerns. Visit their website or click here to find out more information on this service.

Senior Mental Health Services

When you grieve, you can feel both physical and emotional pain. Learn more about mourning a parent or spouse's death here.

Page last modified/reviewed on July 06, 2017

If you know of additional resources that would be appropriate to include in this section, please let us know by contacting us via e-mail at info@nj211.org

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